Located inside "The Castle" in Framingham, Malones Irish Pub & Social is a hotel restaurant and bar at the Renaissance by Marriott serving pub fare and libations. The space is cozy and dim with table & booth seating and seating at the full service bar. There are TVs above the bar.
The food menu has a streamlined selection of starters, salads, French onion soup, seafood chowder, handhelds, main dishes (seafood, pasta, filet mignon, chicken, pork chops, stew), and desserts. The pricing is moderate high. The bar offers 6 draft beers (Guinness, Jack's Abby, Maine Lunch, Be Hoppy, Nite Lite, Whirlpool), bottle/can beers, wine, mixed drinks, cocktails, and mocktails.
I saw a review of this place which was low because of the beer, not the food. I decided anyways to stop in for food on a Saturday night. The place was fairly busy and I sat myself at the bar. I already knew what I wanted. I ordered the Dublin Bay Steamed Mussels ($18 plus tax) and the Braised Short Rib Sliders ($15 plus tax). I was given an ice water. While I was here, they were having issues with the beer taps and pours, no surprise, which was eventually rectified. The food was served together, 10 minutes after ordering.
The Steamed Mussels (25) were simmered in a tasty mussels broth with Jack's Abby Lager, garlic, tomatoes, & herbs, served with grilled toast. The 3 Braised Short Rib Sliders had tender pieces of short rib, caramelized onions, rosemary, horseradish cream dressing on small toasted brioche buns. Both starters were tasty and enough food for dinner. The check was already printed out after I ordered which was $35.31 with tax and before tip.
Overall, I enjoyed the food here and the service was adequate, though I had to ask for a bowl for the mussels shells. If I had ordered a draft beer on this particular visit, the experience would've been dicey in the beginning. Since I stuck to just food, it was all good. read more